Feddersen USA Wagyu is raising the bar with its big wins in the national Triple Crown Steak Challenge. This is helping the Feddersen family accelerate their direct-to-consumer marketing strategy.

“Our goal is to produce the best-tasting, 100% Wagyu beef,” said Brad Feddersen, who has raised Wagyu cattle near Anthon with his family since 1997. “We look at every little detail that can have an impact on our cattle’s well-being and performance.”

The Feddersen’s plans to sell their hormone-free, antibiotic-free beef directly to consumers and chefs accelerated after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the food-supply chain in the spring of 2020. They’ve been building their e-commerce business through their Feddersen USA Wagyu website at https://ilovewagyu.com, where customers can order beef directly from the farm.

There are no shortcuts to producing Wagyu, a Japanese cattle breed known for its superior meat quality. The Feddersens keep their cattle on feed for two years, significantly longer than traditional cattle production, to produce extraordinary marbling.

-Submitted photo
The Feddersens sell hormone-free, antibiotic-free beef, including cuts like this ribeye steak, directly to consumers and chefs.

“The goal of feeding this long is to produce exceptional marbling in the meat,” Feddersen said.

Wagyu cattle are descended from draft animals selected for their physical endurance. This selection favored animals with more intramuscular fat cells, which provided a readily available energy source. In the hierarchy of beef, Wagyu’s superior marbling makes it exceptionally tender, savory, flavorful, juicy beef.

Feddersen USA Wagyu earned top honors in mid-November 2020 in the Triple Crown Steak Challenge, including the Reserve Grand Champion title, for producing beef with superior flavor, tenderness and health benefits.

“The Triple Crown Steak Challenge results verify that all the long hours, hard work, efforts to maintain a healthy environment for the cattle pay off in exceptional meat quality,” Feddersen said.

Eliminating the guesswork

-Photos courtesy of Shawna Feddersen
The Feddersen family has been building their herd of full-blooded Wagyu cattle since 2017.

with great beef

The Triple Crown Steak Challenge goes beyond taste assessments to measure precise, objective scientific valuations of meat quality. This helps consumers know exactly what they’re buying.

“The most distinguished people in the meat industry judge this beef,” says Desiree (Desi) Cicale, a director with the American Wagyu Beef Association. “All these tests eliminate the guesswork of determining beef quality.”

Feddersen USA Wagyu took top honors in the “Warner Bratzler Shear Force for Tenderness — Fullblood” category (which measures meat tenderness) and the “Fatty Acid Profile for Health Benefits — Fullblood” category, which analyzes the beef’s palatability and health benefits. Feddersen USA Wagyu also scored high in the “Total Lipid Panel Fullblood” category, which reveals how much marbling is in the meat.

“Exceptional marbling looks like a blizzard on an ultrasound,” Cicale said. “Fine grains of marbling elevate the taste sensation of the beef and lend a buttery flavor to the meat.”

-Photo courtesy of Shanna Barton
Brad, Sophie, Dash and Shawna Feddersen raise award-winning Wagyu beef near Anthon, Iowa. Feddersen USA Wagyu recently won a number of awards in the national Triple Crown Steak Challenge.

Feddersen USA Wagyu also ranked high in the “Japanese Carcass Camera — Fullblood” category. The high-tech Japanese carcass camera test allows meat to be graded on the Japanese system, which involves quality grades above prime.

Not only is Wagyu beef a gastronomic delight, but it’s healthy, too. The monounsaturated-to-saturated fat ratio is higher in Wagyu than in other beef, plus the saturated fat in Wagyu is unique. A large portion (40 percent) is in a version called stearic acid, which has a minimal impact on raising cholesterol levels, reports the American Wagyu Association.

“Wagyu takes beef to a whole new level,” said Feddersen’s wife, Shawna. “Is it more expensive? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes. This product is special. It starts with the genetics and continues with the special care the animals receive while on our farm.”

Online shopping makes the farm-to-fork connection

The Feddersens have developed a practical approach since they began feeding Wagyu cattle in 1997 for owners in Texas.

“Wagyu are healthy, hardy animals that can handle the heat and the cold, but they need a calm, low-stress environment,” Brad Feddersen said. “Since the cattle are easily spooked by people on foot, we use cutting horses to sort the cattle.”

This attention to detail took on a new importance in 2017 when the Feddersens began building their own herd of full-blooded Wagyu cattle. With approximately 300 animals, the Feddersen’s herd is much larger than the typical U.S. Wagyu herd of 10 to 15 animals.

“If you enjoy beef, our Wagyu products can heighten your dining experience, whether it’s a steak for your anniversary or ground beef for your favorite comfort food recipe,” Shawna Feddersen said. “I think we all can appreciate simple joys and experiences like having an exceptional meal, especially in these times.”

The Feddersens ship their Wagyu beef to buyers across the United States. Nathanael Koch, a customer from the Denver, Colorado, area, says the beef is unlike anything available at the grocery store.

“It brings the steakhouse experience right to your home, so you can share it with your family and friends. I appreciate the fact that the Feddersens are entrepreneurs who sell directly to consumers. It’s rewarding to know this beef comes from a family who takes good care of their cattle, their farm and their community.”

Mark Gordon, an account manager with Sterling Computers Corp. in North Sioux City, got connected with the Feddersens through a business associate. Sterling Computers now buys Feddersen USA Wagyu as an appreciation gift for their customers and vendors.

“While this meat makes a great gift, I like buying it for my family, too,” Gordon said. “It’s fantastic. I’ve been out to the Feddersen’s farm, and you can tell the cattle are well cared for.”

All this offers peace of mind.

“These are unsettled times, to say the least, so I like the food security that comes from buying beef from someone I know,” Gordon said. “You get really good value for your money, too. I’ve tried a lot of different cuts, and I love the New York strips. If you want to eat really good food and have a reliable, safe food supply, the Feddersens are your family.”

Brad Feddersen encourages customers to visit his family’s feedlot in the hills of Woodbury County to learn more about where their food comes from.

“We want to build long-term relationships with our customers and create a business that our children can take over someday,” he said. “I hope Feddersen USA Wagyu will help bring people together and make great memories for a lifetime.”